The traditional use of Cannabis as an analgesic,
anti-asthmatic, and anti-rheumatic drug is well established. This
British study also suggests that cultivation of Cannabis plants
rich in Cannabidiol (CBD) and other phenolic substances would be
useful not only as fiber producing plants but also for medicinal
purposes in the treatment of certain inflammatory disorders. CBD
was found to be more effective than aspirin as an anti-inflammatory
agent. "Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Constituents
of Cannabis Sativa L.," E.A. Formukong, A.T. Evans, and F.J. Evans,
Inflammation, Vol. 4, 1988, pp. 361-371.

Cannabidiol, CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid of
Marijuana, was given to 5 patients with dystonia disorders.
Improvement occurred in all 5 patients by 20-50%. "Open
Label Evaluation of Cannabidiol in Dystonic Movement
Disorders," Consroe, et al, International Journal of Neuroscience,
1986, Vol. 30, pp.277-282.

Three patients with Huntington's Disease who had been
previously unresponsive to therapy with neuroleptics, were given
Cannabidiol, (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid of Marijuana.
After the second week improvement in choreic movement occurred by
20-40%. Except for transient, mild hypo-tension no side effects
were recorded."Effects of Cannabidiol in Huntington's
Disease," Sandyk, Consroe, Stern, and Snider, Neurology, 36
(Suppl. 1) April, 1986, p.342.

In this Brazilian study of 8 Epileptic patients receiving
Cannabidiol, (CBD), 4 were free of convulsions, 3 had partial
improvement, and 1 was unchanged. No serious side effects were
found. This is quite important, as complex partial seizures with
secondary generalization are difficult to treat with currently
used drugs. The potential use of CBD as an anti-epileptic drug
and its possible potentiating effect on other drugs are
discussed. "Chronic Administration of Cannabidiol to Healthy Volunteers
and Epileptic Patients," Pharmacology, 21: 1980, J.M. Cunha, et
al, pp.175-185.

Three patients with TS who experienced incomplete
responses to conventional anti-TS drugs but noted a significant
amelioration of symptoms when smoking marijuana. The effects of
marijuana on TS may be related to its anxiety-reducing
properties, although a more specific antidyskinetic effect cannot
be excluded. Eliminating the psychoactive properties of marijuana
while retaining the antidyskinetic effects (Cannabidiol) could
prove beneficial. "Marijuana and Tourette's Syndrome,"
(letter), Sandyk and Awerbuch, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology,
Vol. 8, No. 6, Dec. 1988, pp.444-5.

This Brazilian study Investigates the possible
anti-psychotic activity of CBD by studying the effect of this
cannabinoid on animal models used in research with potential
anti-psychotic properties. CBD seems to compare favorably with
haloperidol as an anti-psychotic. "Effects of CBD in animal
models predictive of anti-psychotic activity," Zuardi, A.W., Rodrigues,
J.A., Cunha, J.M., Psychopharmacology 1991: 104: pp. 260-264.

CBD blocks some of the effects of THC in mice but
potentiates some other effects. (Brazil)"Pharmacological
Interaction between Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol,"
Karniol, I.G., Carlini, E.A., Psychopharmacologia 1973: 33: pp.
53-70.

CBD was effective in blocking most of the effects of THC,
increased pulse rate, disturbed time tasks, and psychological
reactions. CBD also decreased the anxiety components of THC.
(Brazil) "Cannabidiol Interferes with the effects of
Tetrahydrocannabinol in Man," Karniol, I.G., Shirakawa, I.,
Kasinski, N., Pfeferman, A., Carlini, E.A., European Journal of
Pharmacology 1974: 28: pp. 172-177.

One of the first studies that clearly shows that hemp
grown for fiber is very low in THC, the psychoactive component
that gets people high. The drug-type marijuana is very high in
THC. Cannabidiol (CBD) which is not psychoactive, is very high in
fiber-type hemp but low in drug-type marijuana. This is important
as CBD is known to block the effects of THC. This makes the hemp
doubly useless for drug effects. "Chemistry of Marijuana,"
Coy Waller. Pharmacological Reviews, Vol. 23, No. 4, 1971.

Wild 'marijuana' growing in Riley County Kansas was found
to be very low in THC content. (Below the European threshold for
fiber hemp.) The leaves and flowering tops averaged from
0.01-0.49% THC with a mean of 0.14% THC. CBD which blocks the
psychoactive effects of THC was as high as 1.7%. "Seasonal
Fluctuations in Cannabinoid Content of Kansas Marijuana,"
R.P. Latta, and B.J. Eaton. Economic Botany, 29: April-June,
1975, pp. 153-163.

Researchers for the Canadian Department of Agriculture
tested over 350 varieties of Cannabis in Ottawa, Ontario. They
determined that there were two basic types of Cannabis based on
genetic characteristics: a drug-type which originates in hot
climates such as India and is high in THC but low in CBD and a
fiber-type which originates in temperate climates and is low in
THC but high in CBD and is used industrially for fiber and food.
This awareness of the separateness of the two phenotypes has vast
agronomic potential. It means fiber hemp can be grown without the
drug effect of 'marijuana.' "The Evolution of Cannabinoid
Phenotypes in Cannabis," Ernest Small, H.D. Beckstead, and
Allan Chan, Economic Botany, 29: 1975, pp. 219-232.

Ten mg. of THC is required to get a psychoactive effect
from 'marijuana.' It would require 50-100 cigarettes of the
French hemp cultivated for paper to get a psychoactive high.
"Paper-making type of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivated
in France: Constituents compared to those of marijuana,"
Fournier and Paris, (French) Plantes Medicinales et Phytotherapie,
Vol. 13(2) April, 1979, pp. 116-121.